Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1887-06-16
THE COMMANDMENTS.
EXPLANATORY NOTES BY S. J..
cuRTISS, PHI. D., D. D.

en- Text, Matt. xii, 80.
An Egyptian scholar (Brugsch) says: I'VE
are tempted to believe that the Jewish law
giver Moses modelled his teachings on the
patterns given by the old Egyptian sagesn
While it may well be that Moses learned
much from the Egyptians, yet his immediate
teacher was the Divine Spirit.
There is similarity between some of the
precepts of the Ten Commandments and the
moral law of the Egyptians, but it is easy to
see that the Ten Commandments were not OF
mans devising. The same hand that wrote
them on tables Of stone also wrote them on
the tables of human hearts. But men have
perverted them Although the Egyptians
were below the common level of morality,
their dead are represented as appearing be-
fore the Judgment seat of Osiris, as wrap
ping the robes of their self righteousness
around them, and as saying, 81 have not
blasphemed, 1 have not deceived, have not
stolen. =. Let me go; ye know that I am
without fault, without evil, without sin,
without crimen
How different this boastful spirit from that
produced by the commandments, where every
mouth is stopped and the whole world be-
comes guilty before God Rom. iii, Ig.
to do with mans duties concerning God, those
which follow have to do with mans duties in
regard to his fellow man.
THE LESSON.
The Fifth Commandment ". 19.-The
duty to parents is reckoned next to the duty
to God. While among some peoples, as the
Chinese, the honor of parents and ancestors
has become a religious rite, yet among some
nf ffo oorol Iola
neglected by their children in the most cruel
way.
The fifth commandment really enioins ODE
dience to parents, because children cannot
honor them unless they obey them, and adds
the promise Of long life.
One of the greatest dangers of our age and
country is in a lack of reverence. In the
tendency to break down all social distinctions
and to speak evil of persons occupying high
positions, there Is danger of an undue
familiarity arising between parents and
children, in which the child forgets that he is
a child, and the reverence due to age and ex-
perience.
1t would be well if something of the re-
spect with which the young Bedawin, and
even the Indian boy, treats his father, were
found In our Christian communities.
The Sixth Commandment ". 13.-The
first step to murder is in the indulgence Of
anger. The man who hates another so that
he would strike him down if he dared is al
ready murderer in his heart Matt. v, %;
l John iii, 19. 1t is only question of time,
place and opportunity as to whether he will
take the life of the one he hates.
The sixth commandment, however is as
truly directed against self murder as the
murder of others. None but God, or the
guardians of justice who serve in the concep-
ton Of the New Testament by divine appoint
ment Rom. xiii, Ia, or those who are COM
PEELED to defend themselves against lawless
men, have right to take human life
The Seventh Commandment ". 1A.-The
boy who reads the records Of sensual in
diligence and looks at lewd pictures is prepar-
ing to break this commandment The young
man who tells indocont stories or listens to
them is not only guilty of grave offense
against propriety, but is preparing himself to
be an adulterer. AL conversation and be-
havior between young men and women that
suggests impurity, unless checked, may pre-
pare the way for adultery.
When the heart has once given consent
man is guilty. All lustful thoughts, as well
as words and deeds, are to be avoided Matt
v, 28. There Is no age in the worlds history
when the seventh commandment is not of the
utmost Importance, and the higher the civili-
zation, wealth and luxury of a country, un-
less society is permeated by vital godliness,
the greater the temptation to break it.
The Eighth Commandment ". 15).-There
are many kinds Of stealing, and this COM
mandment is directed against them all A
man steals when he takes that which does not
belong to him Slavery has been abolished
in America. The negro is no longer stolen,
but there is great danger in the desire to get
something for nothing lest multitudes should
be enslaved in great cities 1t seems like theft
when women work from early in the morning
until late at night for starvation wages.
On the other hand, many young man has
taken his employers money because he
wanted better clothes or fell in with bad
companions. In modern society this COM
mandment is being constantly broken.
The Ninth Commandment ". 16).-HThou
shalt not answer against thy neighbor unto
lie" Hebrew. The Hebrew word for lie is
rouge [sha-quel the color sometimes used to
impart the bloom Of youth to the faded
cheek.
This commandment is directed not only
against false witness, but also against all
forms of gossip. 1t is safe rule not to talk
about the faults and peculiarities of people.
The man or woman who takes delight in tell
ing of the faults Of a neighbor or friend I'M
consciously says, "God, thank thee that
am not as other men are" or as my friend
and neighbor. Gossip separates friends. It
is the scavenger that gathers the filth and
decay of the streets
1t were better to be dumb than to be in the
habit of speaking against others, or deaf than
70 ho Al IN hoo oh ion
with pleasure. The boy and girl, the man
and woman, who frown down gossip are in
so far keeping the ninth commandment
The Tenth Commandment ". 10.-"Godli-
ness with contentmeut is great gain" q Tim
vi, o.. The root of communism and anarch-
ism is in the desire to violate this command
ment 1t is because men covet their neigh
bors' houses. wives and possessions that they
wish to break down all social and commercial
distinctions, and introduce the lawleSsness OF
the commune.
The man who offers from the heart each
day the petition, "Give US this day our daily
bread, F" and who is industrious, will be de-
hvered from breaking this commandment
Even those who have only food and raiment
should be content Il Tim. vi, 81.
The Fear of the People Tvs. 1S-20-The
people were terrified by the displays of the
divine majesty. As they listened to the law
which they knew they had broken, and heard
the thunder, peal on peal, as it reverberated
through the mountains, and were almost
blinded with the lightning, While the trumpet
sounded and the mountain smoked, no wonder
they trembled and stood afar off.
It was then that they longed to hear q
human voice, and that they felt they could
not bear to hear God any more
But God did not spare them. His only de-
sign was that they might be restrained from
sin. Many decry fear as a motive in religion.
1t is indeed one Of the lowest motives, but we
must not forget that even in the religion of
Jesus fear has place.
v. 81. Moses, who knew God best, did not
seem to be afraid Of him, but drew near unto
the thick darkness where God was.
POINTS TO BE REMEMBERED.
/. Next TO our duty to God we are to honor
father and mother.
2 Anger unchecked is murder in thought
and may become murder in deed.
5. Shun impure books and pictures, impure
conversation, impure company and impure
thoughts
4. Never take what belongs to another, and